BAKING TIME Takes Tots on Thrill Ride to Flour-Fuelled Fantasy Land

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafts through the theatre as master chefs Bun and Bap try to contain the damage they've done by over-yeasting a batch of dough. An unwelcome Yeasty Beasty springs to life, intent on pursuing a newly baked baby bun through forests, oceans, and floury snowstorms. What are Bap and Bun to do? This is the scenario cooked up by Presentation House Theatre and UK-based Oily CArt Theatre to delight three to six year-olds, their families, and friends from November 25 to December 11 at Presentation House Theatre, in North Vancouver, in a pre-Christmas celebration in the arts of baking and storytelling.

"Each audience member will go home with a tiny loaf of homemade bread (gluten-free is an option!) and a head full of the possibilities that come with hands-on creation," says Kim Selody, Artistic Director, Presentation House Theatre. "We began collaborating on this project with Oily CArt Theatre in 2002. This is truly one of my favourite productions for young people and it is a privilege to bring it to Western Canada for the first time."

Looking for a theme that would provide an immersive experience for young children and their families, Selody and Tim Webb, Artistic Director of Oily CArt Theatre, struck on the smells, sights, textures, and sounds that accompany the sensual pleasure of making and eating freshly baked bread. With Oily Cart designer Claire du Loon, they tested a series of games and stories with very young children to see how little ones would respond to the ideas and experiences. Music, written by Max Reinhardt, was incorporated as a storytelling technique, with most of the text sung. Baking Time has since toured England and Eastern Canada. In 2004, the production won a Dora Award for Outstanding TYA Production.

For the North Vancouver performance run of Baking Time, the co-producers are excited to add live cello and accordion accompaniment to the vocals of their talented cast.

"This is a show that involves all the senses - touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound," explains Selody. "Our hope is that everyone goes home with an understanding of the delights of bread making and, perhaps, an appetite to bake up some adventures of their own."

In addition to the public performances at Presentation House Theatre (please visit phtheatre.org for full schedule), weekday presentations will be offered to elementary schools and preschools during the show's 17-day run.

About Presentation House Theatre: (phtheatre.org)
Presentation House Cultural Society operates Presentation House Theatre (PHT) and oversees the maintenance of the Presentation House Arts Centre for all facility users and tenants including Presentation House Gallery and the North Vancouver Museum. Since 1977, PHT is where children, youth, and adults from different communities have gathered for shared experiences in professional theatre and performing arts. These are created by building bridges between professional artists with over 10,000 hours of experience and a community eager to appreciate quality artistry; between generations with programming that appeals to very young children as well as their parents and grandparents; and between the diverse cultures of the North Shore with programming that reflects our region's diversity in taste and experience.

About Oily CArt Theatre: (oilycart.org.uk)

Since 1981, Oily Cart has been taking its unique blend of theatre to children and young people in schools and venues across the UK. Challenging accepted definitions of theatre and audience, Oily Cart creates innovative, multi-sensory, and highly interactive productions for the very young and for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

By transforming everyday environments into colourful, tactile 'wonderlands,' Oily Cart invites audiences to enter a world of imagination. The company creates original and highly specialized theatre for young audiences using hydro-therapy pools and trampolines, aromatherapy, video projection, puppetry, and a vast array of multi-sensory techniques.

Website & Box Office: phtheatre.org

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